Discussions By Condition: Nerve conditions

Spinal Cord Fistula - rare condition

Due to my personal experience, I felt led to share this information with all of you who may have or could in the future have a condition that could easily end up in paralysis. I started out with the following symptoms:

numbness in toes, then feetweakness in left legtrouble walkingnumbness in skin on legsfall easilybladder problemsbowel problems

MRI was done and I was diagnosed with artheritis, two degenerative disks and a small cyst in lower lumbar (spine). Radiologist recommended another MRI with dye to get a clearer picture. Primary physician, said, "No", you are going to see a neuro-surgeon. We'll let him determine what further tests you need". What a blessing from above. My physician sent me to one of only four neuro-surgeons in our state that specialized in spinal cord fistulas. My physician nor the radiologist had the slightest idea of what the neuro-surgeon was going to find. The neuro-surgeon talked with me on my medical history and had reviewed my MRI films prior to our visit. He said the radiologist and my physician were going to be quite surprised to learn that my trouble was a spinal cord fistula in T10 and T11, of my spine. He said I had no other choice but to have surgery and to have it quickly as I would be paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of my life very soon if I waited. He got me into the hospital three days later and performed an angiogram of the spine to insure his diagnosis was correct. It was correct and I was operated on the next day. He told me that it was a condition that radiologists and most neuro-surgeons don't realize until it's too late. Many patients go through surgeries and have the same problem when it's over and usually end up paralyzed because they were mis-diagnosed. He told me that the Good Lord had control and we needed to thank him that I was caught in time. I am getting better each day, but it will take up to a year to gain back all that I had lost. I thank our Father in heaven for answering prayers and giving these doctors the gift of healing.